Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan (2007)
Coming Out at 20 September 2007 in theaters.
“Mongol”
Action, Biography, Drama
Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan is a semi-historical epic film directed by Sergei Bodrov, about the early life of Temüjin, who later came to be known as Genghis Khan. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Bodrov and Arif Aliev. It was produced by Bodrov, Sergei Selyanov, and Anton Melnik and stars Tadanobu Asano, Sun Honglei, and Chuluuny Khulan in the main roles. Mongol explores abduction, kinship, and the repercussions of war.
The film was a co-production between companies in Russia, Germany and Kazakhstan. Filming took place mainly in the People’s Republic of China, principally in Inner Mongolia (the Mongol autonomous region), and in Kazakhstan. Shooting began in September 2005, and was completed in November 2006. After an initial screening at the Russian Film Festival in Vyborg on 10 August 2007, Mongol was released in Russia on 20 September 2007. It saw a limited release in the United States on 6 June 2008 grossing $5.7 million in domestic ticket sales. It additionally earned nearly $21 million in sales through international release for a combined $26.5 million in gross revenue. The film primiered at 10 August 2007 on Vyborg Russian Cinema Festival.
In 1192, Temüjin, a prisoner in the Tangut kingdom, recounts his story through a series of flashbacks.
Embarking on an expedition 20 years earlier (1172), nine-year-old Temüjin is accompanied by his father Yesügei to select a girl as his future wife. He meets and chooses Börte, against his father’s wishes. On their way home, Yesügei is poisoned by an enemy tribe; on his dying breath, he tells his son that he is now Khan. However, Targutai, Yesügei’s lieutenant, proclaims himself as Khan and is about to kill his young rival. Prevented from doing so by the boy’s mother, Targutai lets him go and vows to kill him as soon as he becomes an adult.
After falling through a frozen lake, Temüjin is rescued by Jamukha. The two quickly become friends and take an oath as blood brothers. Targutai later captures him, but he escapes under the cover of night and roams the countryside.
Director: Sergei Bodrov
Writers: Arif Aliev, Sergei Bodrov
Stars: Tadanobu Asano, Amadu Mamadakov, Khulan Chuluun, Honglei Sun, He Qi, Ben Hon Sun
Cast:
| Tadanobu Asano | … | Temudjin |
| Honglei Sun | … | Jamukha |
| Khulan Chuluun | … | Börte |
| Aliya | … | Oelun – Temudjin’s Mother |
| Baasanjav Mijid | … | Esugei – Temudjin’s Father |
| Amadu Mamadakov | … | Targutai |
| He Qi | … | Dai-Sechen |
| Ben Hon Sun | … | Monk |
| Ji Ri Mu Tu | … | Boorchu |
| You Er | … | Sorgan-Shira |
| Huntun Batu | … | Altan |
| Deng Ba Te Er | … | Daritai |
| Bao Di | … | Todoen |
| Su Ya La Su Rong | … | Girkhai |
| Sai Xing Ga | … | Chiledu |
| Tegen Ao | … | Charkhu |
| Zhang Jiong | … | Tangut Garrison Chief |
| Odnyam Odsuren | … | Young Temudjin |
| Bayertsetseg Erdenebat | … | Young Börte |
| Amarbold Tuvshinbayar | … | Young Jamukha |
| Ba Ti | … | Juchi |
| Li Jia Qi | … | Mungun |
| Bu Ren | … | Taichar |
| Te Ba | … | Khasar |
| Bayaneruul | … | Slave Trader |
| Ba Yin Qi Qi Ge | … | Temulun |
| Ba De Rong Gui | … | Young Taichar |
| Naryn Igilik | … | Tatar |
| Tunga | … | Sochikhel |
| Birol Tarkan Yildiz | … | Mongol |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia